The biggest difference between a conventional petrol or diesel car and an electric car lies in their engines. In a normal car, the AC and heater are run using the heat and power of the engine. But since an electric car does not have an engine, its air conditioning (AC) system works on a completely different and advanced technology.
1. Electric compressor
In conventional cars the AC compressor is driven by a belt attached to the engine. But, EVs have a high-voltage electric compressor. The compressor runs on direct electricity from the car’s main lithium-ion battery. Even when the engine is not running, this compressor can cool the cabin very quietly and efficiently on battery power alone.
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2. Thermal Management System
The AC in an EV not only provides cool air to the passengers, but is also a key part of the car’s ‘Thermal Management System’. An electric car’s battery and motor become less efficient if they overheat. Therefore, the coolant in the AC system is used to control the temperature of the battery pack and electric motor.
3. ‘Heat pump’ technology for heat
In a normal car, the cabin is heated using hot water from the engine. However, EVs consume more energy to generate heat, which can reduce the car’s range. A ‘heat pump’ is used in modern EVs for this. This pump absorbs excess heat from the outside air or from the battery and uses it to heat the cabin. This technology consumes almost 3 times less electricity than conventional heaters.
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4. Effect on range
Since the AC in an electric car runs entirely on batteries, in summer when the AC is running at higher capacity, the car’s driving range can vary by 10 to 15 percent. Therefore, many EVs have the option of ‘pre-cooling’, whereby the cabin can be cooled via a mobile app while the car is still connected to charging, so that the battery drains less during the journey.
In short, AC in an electric car is not only for a comfortable ride, but it is also a very important component in extending the battery life of the car and running on modern electricity.
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